Unit 3 of 5
Study guide for CLEP CLEP College Composition — Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.
95
Practice Questions
18
Flashcards
6
Key Topics
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Which of the following references would be most suitable for a research paper on the historical development of the English language?
The Oxford English Dictionary
A contemporary novel
A collection of modern poetry
A language learning textbook
A style guide for journalists
Answer: A — The Oxford English Dictionary is a comprehensive and authoritative reference work that traces the history and development of the English language, making it the most suitable choice for a research paper on this topic.
Which of the following is the correct MLA works-cited entry for a book with one author?
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Year. Publisher.
Firstname, Lastname. Title of Book. City, Publisher: Year.
Title of Book. Firstname Lastname. City: Publisher, Year.
Answer: A — In MLA format, the works-cited entry for a book with one author should list the author's last name first, followed by a comma, then the first name, then a period, the title of the book in title case, a period, the city of publication, a colon, the publisher, a comma, and the year of publication.
What type of source is documented by the citation (Doe, J. (2022). Article Title. Journal Name, 10(2), 12-20. doi:10.1037/journalname)?
Book
Journal article
Conference paper
Website
Newspaper editorial
Answer: B — Journal article is correct because it includes a DOI, volume, and issue number, indicating a journal article. Most-tempting distractor A is wrong due to presence of a DOI and journal title.
In an essay about the importance of preserving natural habitats, a writer wishes to incorporate the following quotation from a prominent environmentalist: 'The loss of biodiversity will have catastrophic consequences for our planet.' To integrate this quotation most effectively, the writer should
introduce the quotation with a signal phrase, such as 'According to a prominent environmentalist, 'The loss of biodiversity will have catastrophic consequences for our planet,'' and then provide a sentence that paraphrases the quotation's meaning
place the quotation at the beginning of the paragraph, without introduction or explanation, to grab the reader's attention
use the quotation as a concluding sentence, to leave the reader with a lasting impression
paraphrase the quotation in the writer's own words, without including the original phrase, to avoid plagiarism
surround the quotation with brief summaries of other experts' opinions, to create a sense of balance
Answer: A — This option is correct because it demonstrates how to effectively integrate a quotation by introducing it with a signal phrase and then providing a paraphrased explanation of the quotation's meaning, which helps to clarify the writer's point and show their understanding of the source material.
For a research paper on the impact of social media on society, which source would be most relevant?
A book on social media marketing
A study on the psychological effects of social media
A news article on a recent social media trend
A social media post by a influencer
A documentary film on the history of the internet
Answer: B — A study on the psychological effects of social media is correct because the study is directly relevant to the topic.
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